President Sharon O'Keefe: Proven Healthcare Leader at the University of Chicago Medical Center

Sharon O'Keefe has been president of the University of Chicago Medical Center since February 2011.

Ms. O'Keefe began her career in healthcare as a clinical nurse, and then moved into hospital administration, where she now has extensive experience. Prior to becoming president at UC Medical Center, she was president of Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill. She has also been COO and executive vice president of Boston's Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center, where she implemented a successful financial recovery plan for the hospital, and COO of Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, which is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 hospitals in the United States.

As president of UC Medical Center, Ms. O'Keefe works to improve the patient experience, develop outstanding clinical programs and enhance staff and physician satisfaction.

In May 2012, Ms. O'Keefe was named to the board of Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy. She is the mother of a child with epilepsy.

She is also serving a three-year term on the Illinois Hospital Association's board of trustees, which began Jan. 1, 2012.

If you have additional information or updates for this profile, or would like to recommend a leader to be profiled in the future, please contact Lindsey Dunn, editor in chief, Becker's Hospital Review at ldunn@beckershealthcare.com.